If you have suffered an injury to your knee, your doctor may have recommended surgery to repair the damage. Knee surgery is a major procedure, and it is one that comes with some significant recovery. There are some things that you should know about the months following your surgery to ensure that you heal the best and get the best possible outcome. Here are a few of those things that you need to keep in mind.
Follow The Ice And Heat Regimen
Your doctor will recommend an ice and heat regimen for your knee following surgery. It is important that you follow this regimen carefully. The swelling and inflammation that follow your surgery can persist for as long as six months in some cases, so you'll have to keep up the ice and heat treatments for some time. However, it is also important to remember that you should contact your doctor if one or the other doesn't seem to be making a difference or if you feel like more of one could help. Your doctor can advise any changes that would be suitable.
Do The Rehab Exercises
Another thing that your doctor will provide you is a post-surgery schedule for rehabilitation. You'll have certain stretches, exercises, and activities that you will need to complete on a regular basis. Especially when you first start, these activities can be uncomfortable. You might be tempted to forego them because of the discomfort, but that will only set your recovery back and may ultimately limit your mobility once the knee has healed. If you are experiencing significant discomfort, talk with your doctor before you decide to stop any of the exercises. He or she may be able to suggest modifications that will still get you the results that you need.
Avoid Stressing The Knee
You may be surprised at the number of things you do every day that can cause stress on your knees. After knee surgery, you will have to be mindful of your movements and actions to ensure that you don't stress the recovering knee unnecessarily.
For example, make sure that you avoid twisting your knee. If you need to turn around, turn your entire body. Turning just your upper body can actually twist and strain your knee. In a healthy knee, this isn't a concern, but when you are recovering from knee surgery, this can cause pain and damage.
Talk with your knee surgeon about your recovery plan and make sure that you understand all of the expectations.